Abstract: A hardened wear spot on a textile element is formed by applying high energy heat to a selected small area of the element which has been previously hardened and tempered to provide the proper spring characteristics for an operating textile element. The intensity and time of application of the high energy heat and the cooling after heat cut-off are carefully controlled to provide a small area of full hardness which is completely separated from the remaining tempered portion by a buffer zone of less hardness than either the tempered portion or the full hardness area.The new textile element made by this new method is a textile element with the major portion having a predetermined spring characteristic for an operating textile element. A small area of full hardness is located at a predetermined location to provide wear resistance. A buffer zone having less hardness than either the full hardness area or the major tempered portion completely separates the full hardness area from the major portion.

Abstract: A hardened wear spot on a textile element is formed by applying high energy heat to a selected small area of the element which has been previously hardened and tempered to provide the proper spring characteristics for an operating textile element. The intensity and time of application of the high energy heat and the cooling after heat cut-off are carefully controlled to provide a small area of full hardness which is completely separated from the remaining tempered portion by a buffer zone of less hardness than either the tempered portion or the full hardness area.The new textile element made by this new method is a textile element with the major portion having a predetermined spring characteristic for an operating textile element. A small area of full hardness is located at a predetermined location to provide wear resistance. A buffer zone having less hardness than either the full hardness area or the major tempered portion completely separates the full hardness area from the major portion.

Abstract: This is a knitting machine latch needle. The latch pivot is formed by displacing portions of the walls of the slot so that the displaced portions extend into the pivot hole of the latch. The displaced portions of the walls are fused together by a high energy heat source emitting sufficient energy to either drill a hole through the displaced portions or melt the displaced portions.